Variable frequency control apparatus

ABSTRACT

A variable frequency control apparatus includes a variable frequency controller, and at least one temperature sensor, and the variable frequency controller is installed at a compressor of an air-conditioning equipment and electrically coupled to the compressor, and the temperature sensor is installed at a position where a refrigerant pipeline passes through the compressor. A temperature change of the refrigerant passing through the compressor is used as a basis for determining whether an air-conditioning host of the air-conditioning equipment situated in an indoor space has reached a predetermined air-conditioning effect, so as to control and adjust a rotational speed of the compressor and drive the compressor of a constant frequency air-conditioning equipment to produce a variable frequency operation effect.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a variable frequency control apparatus, in particular to the variable frequency control apparatus that is added to the application of a constant frequency air-conditioning equipment, so that a compressor of the constant frequency air-conditioning equipment has the effect of variable frequency operations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With technological progress and cultural development, most industrial developments and economic activities consume a large quantity of energy, and the consumption of energy in any form will cause environmental pollutions. As the awareness of environmental protection arises and international energy environmental conditions vary, finding a way of saving energy and improving energy efficiency becomes an issue of global concern to overcome the problems of the greenhouse effect, the trend of high-priced energy sources and the depletion of traditional energy sources.

Wherein, air-conditioner that providing an air-conditioning effect is an electric appliance that consumes lots of electricity and a compressor of the air-conditioner is the main cause of the high power consumption of the air-conditioner. In a traditional constant air-conditioner, a motor of the compressor generally operates at a rotational speed of approximately 3400-3600 rpm and maintains its operation at a constant speed before achieving a predetermined air-conditioning effect and stops until the predetermined air-conditioning effect is achieved. Once a temperature sensor detects an insufficient air-conditioning effect, the compressor will be started again and stopped until the predetermined air-conditioning effect is resumed. Since the compressor has only two modes, respectively ON and OFF, therefore the frequent switching between ON and OFF and the higher current required for starting the compressor result in high power consumption.

Therefore, the variable frequency operation achieved by adjusting the motor rotation speed of the compressor has a better power saving effect than the constant frequency air-conditioning device. Similarly, the principle of the variable frequency operation of the compressor is to change a power frequency by an inverter, so as to change the motor rotation speed of the compressor, such that when the indoor temperature rises or drops rapidly, and the load of the air-conditioner increases, the inverter is controlled to accelerate the motor rotation speed of the compressor, and when the load of the air-conditioner decreases, the inverter is controlled to maintain a normal motor rotation speed or reduce the motor rotation speed of the compressor.

Therefore, the motor rotation speed of the compressor can be adjusted according to the temperature change instead of using the two operation modes of turning on and off the compressor in a constant frequency air-conditioning device. In addition, the power-on current of the variable frequency air-conditioning device is relatively lower, and thus having a better power saving effect than the constant frequency air-conditioning device. Therefore, most manufacturers develop new models of the inverter air-conditioner for consumers.

At present, new variable frequency air-conditioning equipments are installed mostly. As to a user of the original constant frequency air-conditioning equipment who wants to upgrade the equipment to the variable frequency air-conditioning equipment, the user no longer requires to purchase new equipment or spend money for removing or replacing the equipment. In some situations, the user may even need to change the interior decoration in order to fit the shape and size of the new equipment, and thus incurring additional cost for a large-scale remolding and lowering the consumer's willingness of changing to the variable frequency air-conditioning equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a variable frequency control apparatus that is added to a constant frequency air-conditioning equipment, so that the compressor of the constant frequency air-conditioning equipment has the variable frequency operation effect.

To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a variable frequency control apparatus comprising a variable frequency controller and at least one temperature sensor, wherein the variable frequency controller is installed at a compressor of an air-conditioning equipment and electrically coupled to an electrical circuit of a power supply of the compressor, and the variable frequency controller is electrically integrated with a storage unit for storing a related control parameter, and a computing unit; and the at least one temperature sensor is installed at a refrigerant pipeline passing through the compressor for capturing a refrigerant temperature wherein the temperature sensor is installed and generating a corresponding voltage value; and, the at least one temperature sensor is electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller and the computing unit compares the generated voltage value with the control parameter stored in the storage unit, and then the variable frequency controller outputs a control signal to the compressor according to a comparison result to change a rotational speed.

With the aforementioned structural characteristics, the variable frequency control apparatus of the present invention is installed at the compressor of the air-conditioning equipment which is installed in an outdoor environment, and the temperature change of the refrigerant passing through the compressor is used as a basis for determining whether the indoor space in where the air-conditioning host of the air-conditioning equipment is situated has reached a predetermined air-conditioning effect to control the rotational speed of the compressor, so that the compressor of the constant frequency air-conditioning equipment has a variable frequency operation effect.

More specifically, the variable frequency control apparatus of the present invention has the following advantages and effects:

1. The present invention features simple installation and operation, so that the compressor of a constant frequency air-conditioning equipment can provide the variable frequency operation effect.

2. The invention waives the cost of replacing the air-conditioning equipment.

3. The invention skips the task of changing the air-conditioning equipment.

4. The invention saves the trouble of changing the interior decoration.

5. With the operation of the monitoring module and communication module, users can know whether or not the air-conditioning equipment is maintained at a variable operation status.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a schematic block diagram showing the layout of a variable frequency control apparatus in accordance with a first application of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the architecture of a variable frequency control apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 a schematic block diagram showing the layout of a variable frequency control apparatus in accordance with a second application of the present invention;

FIG. 4 a schematic block diagram showing the layout of a variable frequency control apparatus in accordance with a third application of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 a schematic block diagram showing the layout of a variable frequency control apparatus in accordance with a fourth application of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention provides a variable frequency control apparatus installed into a constant frequency air-conditioning equipment 10, such that a compressor 11 of the constant frequency air-conditioning equipment 10 can provide a variable frequency operation effect. In FIG. 2, the variable frequency control apparatus of the present invention comprises a variable frequency controller 20, and at least one temperature sensor 30.

The variable frequency controller 20 is installed at a compressor 11 of an air-conditioning equipment 10 and electrically coupled to the compressor 11, and the variable frequency controller 20 is electrically integrated with a storage unit 21 for storing a related control parameter and a computing unit 22.

The at least one temperature sensor 30 is installed at a refrigerant pipeline 13 passing through the compressor 11 for capturing a refrigerant temperature wherein the temperature sensor 30 is situated and generating a corresponding voltage value; and the at least one temperature sensor 30 is electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller 20, and transmitting the generated voltage value to the computing unit 22 to compare with the control parameter stored in the storage unit 21, and then the variable frequency controller 20 outputs a control signal to the compressor 11 to change a rotational speed according to a comparison result.

In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the variable frequency control apparatus includes a temperature sensor 30 installed on a refrigerant entrance side of the compressor 11. In another preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the variable frequency control apparatus includes a temperature sensor 30 installed on a refrigerant exit side of the compressor 11. Of course, the variable frequency control apparatus may have a temperature sensor 30 installed separately on both of the refrigerant entrance side and the refrigerant exit side of the compressor as shown in FIG. 4.

During use, the variable frequency control apparatus of the present invention is installed at a compressor 11 of an air-conditioning equipment 10 which is installed in an outdoor environment, and a temperature change of a refrigerant passing through the compressor 11 is used as a basis for determining whether the indoor space in where the air-conditioning host 12 of the air-conditioning equipment 10 is installed has reached a predetermined air-conditioning effect to control and adjust the rotational speed of the compressor 11, so that the compressor 11 of the constant frequency air-conditioning equipment 10 has a variable frequency operation effect.

It is noteworthy that the variable frequency control apparatus of the present invention can achieve the variable operation effect for the compressor of the constant frequency air-conditioning equipment through a simple installation, so that the invention not just waives the cost of replacing the air-conditioning equipments and skips the task of changing the air-conditioning equipment only, but also saves the trouble of changing the interior decoration.

With reference to FIG. 2 for a variable frequency control apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the variable frequency control apparatus further comprises a monitoring module 40 and a communication module 50, wherein the monitoring module 40 is electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller 20 and the at least one temperature sensor 30 for monitoring whether the temperature signal fed back by the at least one temperature sensor 30 changes with the control signal outputted by the variable frequency controller 20, and the result is used as a basis for determining whether or not the variable frequency control apparatus is operated normally.

The communication module 50 is electrically coupled to the monitoring module 40, and the monitoring module 40 is controlled to transmit an error message indicating the abnormality of the variable frequency control apparatus to a pre-installed communication device 60 (such as a mobile phone as shown in the figure). With the operation of the monitoring module and communication module, users can know whether or not the air-conditioning equipment is maintained at a variable operation status.

In FIG. 5, the variable frequency control apparatus of the present invention comprises a temperature sensing device, and outdoor temperature sensors 70, 80 installed at the host and the compressor 11 of the air-conditioning equipment respectively, wherein the temperature sensing device and outdoor temperature sensors 70, 80 are electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller 20 for monitoring whether the temperature signal fed back by the temperature sensing device or the outdoor temperature sensor has reached a predetermined value, and the result is used as a basis for determining whether or not to stop the operation of the variable frequency control apparatus, so as to achieve a mechanism for protecting the apparatus.

In the aforementioned structure, the variable frequency control apparatus further comprises a circuit substrate (not shown in the figure), and the variable frequency controller, the monitoring module and the communication module are installed on the circuit substrate to facilitate the installation and application of the variable frequency control apparatus.

Compared with the conventional structure, the variable frequency control apparatus of the present invention has the following advantages and effects:

1. The present invention features simple installation and operation, so that the compressor of a constant frequency air-conditioning equipment can provide the variable frequency operation effect.

2. The invention waives the cost of replacing the air-conditioning equipment.

3. The invention skips the task of changing the air-conditioning equipment.

4. The invention saves the trouble of changing the interior decoration.

5. With the operation of the monitoring module and communication module, users can know whether or not the air-conditioning equipment is maintained at a variable operation status.

In summation of the description above, the present invention improves over the prior art, and is thus duly filed for patent application. While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A variable frequency control apparatus, comprising: a variable frequency controller, installed at a compressor of an air-conditioning equipment, and the variable frequency controller being electrically coupled to an electrical circuit, and the variable frequency controller being electrically integrated with a storage unit for storing a control parameter, and a computing unit; and at least one temperature sensor, installed at a refrigerant pipeline that passes through the compressor, for capturing a refrigerant temperature at a position where the temperature sensor is situated and generating a corresponding voltage value; wherein the at least one temperature sensor is electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller, and the computing unit compares the generated voltage value with the control parameter stored in the storage unit, and then the variable frequency controller outputs a control signal to the compressor to change a rotational speed according to a comparison result.
 2. The variable frequency control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring module and a communication module, and the monitoring module being electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller and the at least one temperature sensor for monitoring whether the temperature signal fed back by the at least one temperature sensor changes with the control signal outputted by the variable frequency controller in order to determine whether the variable frequency control apparatus is operated normally, and the communication module being electrically coupled to the monitoring module and controlled by the monitoring module to transmit at least one error message indicating the abnormality of the variable frequency control apparatus to a pre-installed communication device.
 3. The variable frequency control apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a circuit substrate for installing the variable frequency controller, the monitoring module and the communication module thereon.
 4. The variable frequency control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor installed on a refrigerant entrance side of the compressor.
 5. The variable frequency control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor installed on a refrigerant exit side of the compressor.
 6. The variable frequency control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor installed separately on a refrigerant entrance side and a refrigerant exit side of the compressor.
 7. The variable frequency control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an outdoor temperature sensor installed at the position of the compressor of the air-conditioning equipment and electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller.
 8. The variable frequency control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensing device installed at an air-conditioning host of the air-conditioning equipment and electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller.
 9. The variable frequency control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensing device installed at an air-conditioning host of the air-conditioning equipment and electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller; and an outdoor temperature sensor installed at the compressor of the air-conditioning equipment and electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller.
 10. The variable frequency control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensing device installed at an air-conditioning host of the air-conditioning equipment and electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller; a temperature sensor installed separately on a refrigerant entrance side and a refrigerant exit side of the compressor; and an outdoor temperature sensor installed at the compressor of the air-conditioning equipment and electrically coupled to the variable frequency controller. 